Work on Horsted Keynes station on the Bluebell Railway has been underway and is now nearing completion.

Over the last month, work on platforms 1 and 2 has consisted of working on the platform edge slabs, fixing drainage and the tarmac surface.

When fixing the overflowing gutters on platform 2, leaks were discovered in the underground drainage pipes, leading to a more complex repair. The majority of the rainwater drainage system was replaced to prevent further issues.

Work is in progress to install a disabled toilet and a unisex toilet where the model railway room used to be. This will mean that visitors won’t have to travel to another platform to use the facilities and ease pressure during special events.

A lot of the stone slabs on the platforms had been damaged and needed replacing. Before this repair could be completed, the wall of platform 2 needed to be repaired.

While in better condition than the wall on platform 1, there were numerous loose bricks and slight subsidence. Once repairs were completed, extra slabs from platform 1 were used to replace the old loose slabs. The slabs were installed with a slight backwards slope away from the platform edge.

At the north end of the two platforms, the grass has been replaced with a flower bed, and the water crane had some stone and tarmac work adjusted, making it level with the platform. With all other aspects reaching completion, a new tarmac surface could be applied.

Further preparations to lay track into platform one have also advanced, with the old track gone and the track bed scraped and levelled, a drain to connect the culvert has been put in, terram fibreglass matting laid, and the ballast has been spread.

The line has been altered slightly to account for the new platform 1, which has meant moving the foot crossing. At the current stage, the reinstatement of the crossing and compacting the ballast are the only jobs that remain before track relaying can commence.

You can find out more about the Bluebell Railway and when trains are running over on their website at https://www.bluebell-railway.com/